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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really liked the start of this series. Gabriel is a really interesting character and gives the novel a lot of focus, as it jumps from location to location, and from flash-backs to present day. I think the book was a good mix of introducing the character as well as a well-thought out plot, as well. I look forward to reading more in the series!
Read this one a long time ago and recently returned to it. Silva has a great way of giving the reader both sides of the conflict between Palestine and Israel while at the same time not attempting to make up the reader's mind for them. Gabriel Allon is a unique protagonist, art restorer by day, assassin by night. I'll be sticking with this series as part of my reading for the next while.
The methodology of the art restoration expert is the same as that of the professional assassin: “study the target, become like him, do the job, slip away without a trace.” Just as retired Israeli agent Gabriel Allon must study the artist Vecellio in order to resurrect and restore The Adoration of the Shepherd, to make the painting just like the original so he must study again the work of his old nemesis Tariq, agent of the PLO wing that is angry and upset with Arafat’s peace initiatives. Tariq is also responsible for the death of Gabriel's wife and child, so Ari Shamron tries to induce Gabriel out of retirement to track down and kill Tariq after Tariq’s organization has assassinated the Israeli ambassador in Paris. In these days after the end of the Cold War, writers of spy thrillers have been left with few international conflicts and adversaries with which to ground their novels. Silva has become one of the more successful, and this one is a real pageturner. Tariq learns from an inside source that Gabriel is after him, so it becomes a cat-andmouse game to see who can find and eliminate the other first.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fun spy novel that served it’s purpose of providing an escape into a harrowing adventure.
adventurous
Mini-Review:
4 Stars for Narration by George Guidall
2.5 Stars for 2D Characters
3 Stars for Plot
There were parts of the story that felt very atmospheric and like I should be diving into a deep story full of conflicting emotions and suspense. I never quite got to that point. The point of views changed frequently enough to keep me from ever getting into any of the characters. I thought I would end up liking Gabriel as a tragic figure but the deadly allure never made itself apparent or lure me into fangirl mode.
Guidall is a great narrator. I love him as Longmire. For this? If the story had been told more from Gabriel's POV, there would be more elements to connect with in the story via setting, actions, etc. The story came across as a wannabe epic and ended up being a shallow dip into the darker side of human drive.
4 Stars for Narration by George Guidall
2.5 Stars for 2D Characters
3 Stars for Plot
There were parts of the story that felt very atmospheric and like I should be diving into a deep story full of conflicting emotions and suspense. I never quite got to that point. The point of views changed frequently enough to keep me from ever getting into any of the characters. I thought I would end up liking Gabriel as a tragic figure but the deadly allure never made itself apparent or lure me into fangirl mode.
Guidall is a great narrator. I love him as Longmire. For this? If the story had been told more from Gabriel's POV, there would be more elements to connect with in the story via setting, actions, etc. The story came across as a wannabe epic and ended up being a shallow dip into the darker side of human drive.
Now I see why my library's patrons are Silva addicts. Whether it's because he's a more experienced writer, or had better editing, or is just more comfortable with the issues at play in the Middle East, I found this to be a much better book than An Unlikely Spy. Tighter in plot, with more nuanced characterizations, and perhaps not coincidentally, about 200 pages shorter.